Improvement in printing-presses



F. 0. DEGENER. Printing Press.

Patented April 24, 1860.

Zizee mir UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE,

F. O. DEGENER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,973, dated April 24, 1560.k

To all whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, F. O. DEGENEE, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Printing-Press; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the' accompanying drawings, and the letters of reference thereon, all of which form a part of this specification, the same letter of reference always desinating the saine object or part of the. press in all the figures.

Of the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the press, the type-bed and platen having been moved upward, the platen being in a position to receive the paper or card to be printed. Fig. 2 is a side view, (representing the same ends of the type-bed and platen toward you as in Fig. 1,) with the side of the frame next to you removed, as also the support of the type-bed and connecting-piece next toward you, and part of the gear-Wheel removed for the purpose of showing better the positions of the different parts of the typebed and platen, as also the other parts attached thereto, the platen being here represented without the card arrangement, and the platen having had a sheet of paper previously placed upon it has moved with the paper, the side grippers, and the type-bed to the place of irnpression, the red line representing the sheet of paper. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are sectional views of the type-bed and platen in different positions, which, with the details of all the figures, I shall fully explain in the construction and operation of the press.

This press is constructed to be used for pri nting either cards or paper.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar construction of a printing-press and the arrangement of different parts thereof, so as to make it both simple and useful.

To enable others skilled in 'the art to make and use my invention, I will now explain its construction and operation.

Construction-The material used in the construction of this press is principally iron, of which I construct a type-forni bed, A, with two projecting arms, a, on one side, one arm near each end of such type-form bed. I also provide said type-form bed with a fiangac,

on each end, said flanges being made typehigh, so as to serve as guidesfor the inkingrollers. Between the said flanges a the frame or chase 1)(which is to hold the type) is placed upon the face of the type-form bed, and secured in its place by any known means.

The back of the bed A, I provide with projecting pieces e, at or near the center of which a shaft, f, is run through, and between the ends of the pieces e a counter-balance, D, is firmly secured, so as to constitute with the type-form bed one substantial whole, as it were. This counter-balance D has a projecting arm, g, on one end to which a connectingpiece, E, is pivoted. (This army may be made to project from one of the pieces e and be connected therewith instead of being connected with the counter-balance D.)

The platen C is attached and held by reguletting-screws b to a frame-work, B. This frame B is provided with two projecting arms, c, corresponding with the two arms et of the bed, so that the bed and platen can be connected or hinged together at or near the ends of these arms, as shown at d. To this frame B, I at-` tach at each end a connecting-piece, F, by means of bolts or a shaft, as shown at i. I now provide a proper frame or stand to support the type-form bed and platen,as also other par-ts of the press, said stand or frame consisting of two sides, G, held-together by proper braces or traverse-pieces, 7c. I run a shaft, H, through this stand or frame G, near the front and top, and support the frame B, with the platen C, on this shaft H between the two sides G, by having the shaft H pass through one end of the connecting-pieces F. To one end of this shaft H, I firmly Aattach a gearwheel, I, and to the other end of the shaft H, I fasten a plain platewheel, K.

At the back of the frame Gr, near the bottoni, I pivot two supports, L, one support on each side of the press. At the top ends of these supports L, I have the shaftf of the bed run through and connect this shaft f, by means of two connecting-pieces, M, (one on each side of the press,) to the wheels I and K by pins or bolts placed eecentrically to the shaft H, as shown at o", Figs. 1 and 2. A pinion, N, is geared into the wheel I. This pinion is fastened to one end of the shaft It, and to the other end of this shaft k a ily-wheel, O, is firmly attached. The connecting-piece E being attached by one end at h to a part of the typebed, is attached at the other end to the frame G by means of an eccentric, I. To this eccentric an arm or lever, Q, is firmly attached. as shown in Fig. 1. By means of this leve-r Q the eccentric l? can be made to -assume different positions, as occasion may require, which will be further explained. A guard-piece, R, provided with proper notches, is placed over this lever Q, by which the motion of the eccentric P is determined.

To the vbed A, at the top, I attach a round ink-distributing table, S, so that it can rotate. I place this ink-distributing table at an incline from the face of the type-bed, so that the type bed and ink-table both can pass and repass properly under the inking-rollers T, which are held in slits of two stationary supports, U, one on each side ofthe press. On the inking-roller stocks d, I place metal rollers e, one on each side of the hiking-roller T. These metal rollers c are to bear on the flanges a of the typebed, so as to keep the inkingrollers T at a uniform height from the type as the type-bed passes and repasses under the inking-rollers.

To one of the pieces e, near the shaft f, I pivot a lever, Z, which carries a pawl, m, at one end. This pawl m is to catch into teeth a at the under side of theink-distributing-table, so as to turn it during the working of the press. At the lower end of this lever Z a roller, o, is placed, which is to operate the leverl by rolling on an incline, p, projecting from and forming part of the connecting-piece E. This inclinep is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. I further attach to the type-bed, where it is jointed to the platen, a frisket or gripper-frame, V. To this gripper-frame I attach twogrippers, q, in such manner that they can be adjusted sidewise to suit the different sizes of paper or articles to be printed. This gripper-frame V and grippers g are.shown in Fig. l and partly in Fig. 2. This gripper-frame V has on each end a short arm, r, projecting sidewise. To this arm 1*, I attach one end of a sufficiently strong spiral spring, s, and the other end of this spring I fasten to the end of the type-bed, as shown at t, Figs. l and 2. This gripperframe, with the projecting arm or arms r and spring or springs s, is so arranged that the tension of the spring or springs alone will hold the gripper-frame in its normal position, as shown in Fig. l, and will also allow the said gripper-frame to assume any other necessary positions, while holding the paper against the platen by means of its grippers, during the working of the press, without any other means-such as cams or stops, generally used for such purpose-being employed.

Fig. 2 shows the position which the gripperframe, grippers, and springs assume while an impression is being given, the red line representing a sheet of paper being held against the platen by the grippcrs. -For cards of a small size or of common size I provide the following card arrangement, which is so constructed that it can easily be attached to or removed from the platen. Thiscard arrangement consists of a frame, a, to be attached to the lower side of the platen C. This frame u has two small shafts or rods, t w, running parallel with the platen and projecting on one end vof the platen, each rod being provided with an arm, my. The ends of these arms are bent at a right angle with the arm, so as to form projecting pinsv or studs, as shown at a and z', Fig. l.

To the rod o, I attach a card-gage, a', which has two projecting arms, b', one at each end of the gage. These arms are provided with slits c, and are fastened to the rod o by screws or bolts d', passing through these slits, and t-he gage is thus made adjustable.

To the rod w, Iattach a card-gripper, e', provided likewise with two projecting arms, f, with slits g', and fastened to the rod w by means of bolts or screws h. This cardgripper can also be adjusted so as to suit the position of the card-gage. This card-gripper is made of thinner material than what the cardgage is, and is placed above the card-gage. The card-gripper has its front edge bent down in front of the card-gage, as shown at t", so as to grip4 the card when it is placed against the gage. The card-gage d and card-gripper c are held in their proper positions against the platen by means of springs 7c l', being attached by one end to their respective rods, o w, and fastened by the other ends to the frame u.

To the frame G of the press I attach an incline, m', for the pin or stud z of the arm y to slide on when the platen is brought forward, and thus raise the card-gripper from the platen. I further attach to the press-frame G a piece, n', which supports a swinging pawl, o', and a stop-pin, p, the said pawl having a projecting iiange, q', the use of which I shall further explain when describing the operation of the press.

At the front of the platen C, I attach an adjustable gage, r', which may be used as an end gage for cards, and also occasionally for paper when the card arrangement is removed from the platen.

This-press may be so arranged as to be operated either by steam, foot, hand, horse, or other power.

Operation-Having the different parts of the press constructed and arranged as described, then byturning the fly-wheel O inotion will be imparted to all the Working parts of the press. The type-form bedV A being supported and connected with the driving parts of the press, as explained, a vibratory or alternate motion is given to the shaft f of the bed as the main shaft H, with its two wheels I and K, revolves, while at the same time the face ofthe type-bed has a rotating reciprocating movement, caused by the type-bed being connected at a certain point with the stand or frame G by means of the connecting-piece E. Thus this partof the bed is retained at linearly in the same position always, while that part of the bed at the shaft f is moved backward and forward by and through the crank-motion of the wheels I and K and the connectingpieces M, and thus the face of the type-bed rotates and reciprocates; and as the platen G, by and through'tlije frame B, is hinged to the type-bed A, the bed while moving gives'also motion to the platen C and causes it to assume the necessary'positions required during the working of the press, so that a sheet of paper or a card may be placed upon the platen, then, as the bed and platen in their movements meet, receive an impression, and as the bed and platen return to their first position this printed matter will be removed and be succeeded by another sheet of paper or card to be printed. The type-bed with ink-table attached both pass and repass under the inkingrollers during the working ofthe press. Thus the inking-rollers alternately ink the type and are replenished with ink. During theinking of the type the ink-distributing table is moved part Way round by a lever, pawl, and incline, as before mentioned, so as to always keep the ink spread evenly. The ink may be put on to the inkdistributing table by means of a small hand-roller, as occasion may require. By means of the eccentric P the type-bed aud platen can be so adj usted that while the impression is being given all the points that have to bear the impression will fall in in a central line, as shown by the dotted line A, passing through these points in Figs. 2 and 4 at H, t', and f. The eccentric P being thus properly adjusted and firmly attached to alever, Q, as shown in Fig. 1, the said eccentric P can be turned part way round, the distance to be turned being determined by the guardpiece R, as shown in Fig. 1. By changing the eccentric P from its normal position it occupies in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 to the position as shown in Fig. 3 the point i will be considerably raised above the dotted line A by the lower part of the type-bed being drawn farther forward and upward. Thus the face of the type and the face of the platen cannot touch while the press is in motion, and the taking of an impression may thus be snspended as occasion may require-forinstance, when the ink is to be distribnted,or when the type is to be passed several times under the inking-rollers for one impression, so as to give to the type a more thorough inking. When cards are to be printed, then the described card arrangement, as shown in Fig. 1, is attached to the platen, and the grippers 1 may either be removed or placed one at each end of the frame V, which holds them, so that they cannot interfere with the card arrangement, as shown in Fig. 1, where the press is represented in a position for the platen C to receive the card to be printed. After acard has been placed upon the platen against thepreviousl yadj usted gages, then as the platen recedes from the position shown in Fig. 1 and the stud z of the gripper-arm y leaves the incline m', this causes the card-gripper e' to come down and hold the card,by means of the spring Z,until an impression has been given, Fig. 4 showing the position which the bed and platen assume while an impression is being given. During the movement of the platen from the position of Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 4 the stud z of the gage-rod arm'x passes under the projecting flange q of the swinging pawl 0', thus lifting the pawl fromv the stop-pin p', and

when the platen arrives at or near the place where the impression is to be given the stud' ofthe card-gripper causes the `card to bev pushed from the gage by the gripper, thus insuring its dropping from the gage and platen, the card while dropping passing the gage and gripper on one side, and the two rods which hold and operate the gage and gripper on the other side. This position is shown in Fig. 5, the red line representing the card in the act of dropping. Should a card have been placed upon the platen and the taking of an impression be suspended, then the stud z will not pass from under the pawlange q', as the platen cannot move down low enough,and thus the dropping of the card from the platen will also be suspended simultaneously with the suspension of an impression by and through one and the same means. This position is shown in Fig. 3, the red line representing the card being retained in its place against the platen.

A box (which is not shown in the drawings) may be placed under the bed and platen to receive the cards as they drop. When sheets of paper or large cards are to be printed, then this'card arrangement is removed from the platen, and the side grippers, q, are used to hold the paper or large cards against the platen, as shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully described my improved printing-press, what I cla-im therein as new and as my invention, and which I desire to have secured to me by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of a rotating ink-distributing table with a rotating reciprocating type-bed, for the purpose as described.

2. The combination of the described mechanism for giving the desired movement to a type-bed hinged to aplaten, the said mechanism consisting of the revolving shaft H, passing through the pieces (or piece) F,which suppiece 113,01* its equivalent, the con meeting-pieces M, being attached to the shaft f of the typebed at one end, and connected at the other end by pins or bolts set eccentrioally to the shaft H, to wheels, plates, or arms attached to th shaft H. v

3. In combination with a type-bed con structed and operating as described, the eccentric P, for the purpose of adjusting and varyin; the linear position of' the typcsbed and platen.

4. The described construction oi' they card arrangen'ient, operating and for the purpose as herein set forth.

5. In combination with the described cardgage and lgripper, making the end gage entirely separate from the side gage, and attaching the end gage to the platen on the side opW posite to the side gage and gripper, for the purpose as described. l

6. Attaching the 'frisket or gripper-frame to a rotating reciprocating type-bed, or to arms projecting from such typebed, in such man ner that the said frisket or gripper-frame shalt be carried by andV move with said typebed, and holding said grippenframe iu the desired position when the grippcrs' are not in Contact with the platen, and allowing the lgripperframe to assume the requisite positions when the grippers are in Contact with the platen, and causing them to grip and hold the paper against the platen by and through the tension of a spring or springs only, thus dispensing with cams or stops generally used for such purpose.

7. 'In combination with a type bed and platen constructed and operating as described, the eccentric pin, bolt, or shaft, for the purpose of' suspending the taking of an impression.

8. Suspending the operation of the carddrop motion during the suspension of the impression.

9. The combination of the eccentric pin, bolt, or shaft with a card-drop motion, for the purpose of suspending the operation of such oarddrop motion.

l0. Suspending the taking of an impression, and suspending the operation ofthe carddrop motion by and through one and the same 1l. The combination of a type-bed, operating as described,with the stationaryink-1'oller supports.

F. O. DEGENER. liVitnesses:

URIAH Lnvrson, ALBERT ROWLND. v 

